US5116451A - Flow through impregnation of deep nested fiber optical canister - Google Patents
Flow through impregnation of deep nested fiber optical canister Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US5116451A US5116451A US07/575,103 US57510390A US5116451A US 5116451 A US5116451 A US 5116451A US 57510390 A US57510390 A US 57510390A US 5116451 A US5116451 A US 5116451A
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- adhesive
- channel
- canister
- pack
- filament
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H55/00—Wound packages of filamentary material
- B65H55/02—Self-supporting packages
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H71/00—Moistening, sizing, oiling, waxing, colouring or drying filamentary material as additional measures during package formation
Definitions
- This invention relates to a method of applying adhesive to a fiber optic canister. More particularly, a fiber optic canister is formed having at least two open channels. Adhesive is injected into at least one channel to impregnate the canister with adhesive.
- Wound optical fibers and wound wire coils are commonly used in military and communication applications.
- optical fibers are densely wound, layer by layer onto bobbins, to form extremely long wound filament items referred to as fiber optic coils, canisters, packs, etc. These items are often designed and wound to be useful in high speed payout applications.
- Another method of applying adhesive involves vacuum impregnation of a dry wound canister with adhesive.
- the canister is first dry wound without any adhesive, and then adhesive is injected into the entire item using a vacuum.
- This technique requires the use of a volatile solvent to reduce the viscosity of the adhesive so that the adhesive will flow in the vacuum.
- solvents actually boil off in such vacuums, resulting in the application of too much adhesive to the winding.
- One way around the problem of applying too much adhesive is to use a weak adhesive; however a weak adhesive is unacceptable in many military applications.
- a vacuum is ineffective in removing any excess adhesive which may have accumulated in the canister.
- a method and system of applying a material (such as an adhesive) to a wound filament item is provided.
- a material such as an adhesive
- a wound filament item such as a fiber optic canister
- the method is useful with canisters or coils which, when dry wound, have at least one channel formed therein.
- the method includes the step of injecting adhesive into one channel of the canister to impregnate the canister with adhesive.
- the method includes the additional step of discharging adhesive from a second channel to remove excess adhesive.
- the method may also include the step of circulating air through both channels to purge the canister of excess adhesive and solvent.
- the invention comprises a system for producing wound filament items such as canisters.
- the system includes a winding system for forming a dry wound filament item having at least two channels; a fixture for receiving the dry wound filament item; and a hydraulic system for injecting adhesive into one channel to impregnate the item with adhesive and for discharging adhesive from the other channel to remove excess adhesive.
- the system may also include a seal for preventing adhesive from leaking from the item during impregnation.
- the invention has numerous advantages over the prior art. For example, solvent born adhesives can be employed without the risk of vaporization since the adhesives are not applied under a vacuum. In addition, excess solvents and adhesive can be quickly and thoroughly removed from the canister by circulating air or a cleaning fluid through the channels. The resulting substantially open channels help to dissipate high pressures which may be exerted on the canister, for example, during undersea applications, further resulting in minimal distortion of the filament.
- the amount of adhesive applied can be controlled by varying the adhesive-solvent proportions and the force of and duration of the impregnation and purging steps.
- FIG. 1 depicts a deep nested fiber optic canister.
- FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a canister undergoing flow through impregnation of adhesive according to the invention.
- FIGS. 3A-3C are cross-sectional views of a canister at various stages of formation according to the invention.
- FIGS. 4 and 5 are systems for injecting and removing adhesive according to various embodiments of the invention.
- FIG. 6 shows in summary form a method for impregnating a dry wound filament item.
- FIG. 1 is a stylized illustration of a portion of a fiber optic canister 2.
- Canister 2 may be a typical deep nested filament winding formed of wound filaments 4.
- filament includes optical fiber, wire, and the like and the terms “wound item” and “item” include fibers, wires, and other filaments wound so as to form canisters, packs, or coils.
- fibers 4 are wound layer upon layer in a tightly packed, dense configuration.
- a top layer 6 will be nested into a bottom layer 8.
- the top layer 6 will cross over the bottom layer at least two crossover regions per layer.
- the crossover regions are shown in FIG. 1 as regions 12 and 14.
- Crossover regions 12 and 14 are characterized as shaded triangular areas and form openings through the finally wound item.
- additional layers of filament (not shown) are successively wound over layers 6 and 8
- the crossover regions in such additional layers will be formed in alignment with crossover regions 12 and 14, with only a slight shift in the crossover regions from layer to layer.
- the resulting continuously connected crossover regions form a pair of channels which run through the entire pack from inside to outside. According to the invention, these naturally occurring channels are used to inject a material such as an adhesive into a fully wound, dry filament item.
- FIG. 2 shows one arrangement for injecting adhesive into a dry wound fiber optic canister and for removing adhesive from a dry wound fiber optic canister according to the invention.
- a dry wound canister 2 is mounted on a mandrel 20.
- Channels 16 and 18 are used for injecting adhesive into canister 2 at a channel input 17 and for removing excess adhesive from canister 2 at a channel output 19.
- Adhesive is injected into canister 2 under pressure at channel input 17 into channel 16 and impregnates canister 2 along flow paths 22, 24, 26 and 28 formed by the spaces between filaments 4 which make up the fiber pack. Adhesive is forced along flow paths 20, 24, 26 and 28, into channel 18, and out of the item at channel output 19.
- the outer surface of the canister may be sealed by wrapping with tape or a similar resilient barrier material to contain the adhesive.
- This seal can also be reinforced by over winding with wire or a similar material to assure adequate strength and sealing to counterbalance the pressure of impregnation.
- the injection of the adhesive into the channel input 17 is stopped and the use of a purging fluid such as air, is started.
- the purging fluid may be injected into channel input 17, forced along flow paths 22, 24, 26 and 28, and discharged from the wound item 2 at channel output 19.
- the out flow from channel output 19 can be carefully monitored while adhesive is being injected to determine when the item has been impregnated with a suitable amount of adhesive.
- one indication of the complete filing of the flow paths with adhesive is the lack of air bubbles in the adhesive discharge from channel output 19.
- a purging fluid may then be circulated through canister 2 to eject excess adhesive from the crossover regions.
- the amount of adhesive left in the item will be determined by the viscosity of the adhesive fluid solution, its surface tension, and the degree to which the adhesive wets the surface of the item. Circulation of a purge gas such as air through canister 2 will not only remove excessive adhesive but will also remove any evaporating solvent and facilitate interior drying of canister 2.
- FIGS. 3A-3C are stylized cross-sectional views of filaments 4 when wound dry, impregnated, and subsequently purged.
- FIG. 3A when canister 2 is dry wound, spaces 30 are formed between the various filaments 4. During impregnation, these spaces 30 are filled with adhesive. After purging, a meniscus of adhesive 32 will be formed in the corners of these spaces 30. The amount of residual adhesive left in the item will determine the peel characteristics when the filament is paid out during actual use.
- FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of another system for injecting adhesive into a dry wound canister 2 and for removing adhesive from canister 2 according to another embodiment of the invention.
- adhesive is injected into and removed from canister 2 at inside channel inputs 44 and 46. This is in contrast to the arrangement in FIG. 3 where adhesive was injected and removed from channel inputs along the outside of the item.
- the arrangement as shown in FIG. 4 uses a continuous, one piece seal 50 and requires openings in the mandrel 20.
- An adhesive input line 40 from an adhesive reservoir (not shown) is coupled to inside channel input 44 and an adhesive output line 42 is coupled to channel output 46. Output line 42 will return adhesive to the adhesive reservoir (not shown).
- FIG. 5 shows a complete system for injecting adhesive into a canister 2 and for purging excess adhesive from canister 2.
- a dry wound canister 2 is mounted on and sealed along its interior surface by a mandrel 20.
- the exterior surface of canister 2 is sealed on its exterior surface by a seal 50.
- Adhesive and purge fluid are injected into input channel 44 by an input manifold 40.
- Excess adhesive and purged fluid is recovered from output channel 46 by an output manifold 42.
- adhesive flows through an output line 60 to a transfer valve 62.
- One output of a transfer valve 62 is connected by a supply line 64 to an input of an adhesive reservoir 66.
- the adhesive reservoir 66 contains a quantity of adhesive and thinning agents (i.e., solvents).
- An output line 68 from adhesive reservoir 66 is coupled to an input side of pump 70.
- An output line 72 carries adhesive from an output of pump 70 to an input of another transfer valve 74.
- the output of transfer valve 74 is coupled to input manifold 40 to inject the adhesive solution under pressure into input channel 44.
- the adhesive solution flows around flow paths in canister 2 and exits the canister at output channel 46.
- Adhesive solution flowing in the adhesive circulation loop should be sampled to determine air content or other characteristics to determine when the canister 2 has been sufficiently impregnated with adhesive.
- a monitor 78 may be coupled to adhesive line 64. When the air content falls below a certain detectable level, i.e. is near zero, canister 2 is suitably impregnated with adhesive.
- transfer valve 74 When canister 2 has been adequately filled with adhesive, transfer valve 74 is reset to inject purge fluid over a line 76 to manifold 40 and into channel opening 44. Purge fluid is then supply circulated under pressure through canister 2 forcing adhesive and purge fluid out of canister 2, at channel opening 46. The purge fluid will then flow over output line 60 and into transfer valve 62. An output line 88 conveys waste purge fluid and adhesive to a disposal unit not shown.
- the purge fluid can be provided from a reservoir such as purge fluid reservoir 80 and coupled over a hydraulic line 82 to an input side of pump 84.
- the output of pump 84 is coupled by a hydraulic line 86 to an input side of transfer valve 74.
- canister 2 When all the purge fluid is used up, after a predetermined time, or upon a monitor detecting a certain minimum amount of adhesive in the purge fluid, another fluid could be circulated through canister 2. For example, if a liquid fluid were first used to purge canister 2 of adhesive, a follow-up purge using air or another gaseous mixture may be used to quickly dry the wound item.
- FIG. 6 shows in summary form a method for impregnating a dry wound filament item (canister, etc.) with adhesive according to another embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 6 the method includes the step of first dry winding a filament onto a mandrel. Next, the dry wound filament item is sealed.
- adhesive is circulated through the wound item to impregnate the wound item with adhesive.
- discharge adhesive is monitored to determine when substantially all of the air has been forced out of the wound item.
- a purge fluid is circulated through the filament item to remove excess adhesive from the item.
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- Application Of Or Painting With Fluid Materials (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims (4)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US07/575,103 US5116451A (en) | 1990-08-29 | 1990-08-29 | Flow through impregnation of deep nested fiber optical canister |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US07/575,103 US5116451A (en) | 1990-08-29 | 1990-08-29 | Flow through impregnation of deep nested fiber optical canister |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US5116451A true US5116451A (en) | 1992-05-26 |
Family
ID=24298962
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US07/575,103 Expired - Lifetime US5116451A (en) | 1990-08-29 | 1990-08-29 | Flow through impregnation of deep nested fiber optical canister |
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Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5194112A (en) * | 1990-09-14 | 1993-03-16 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army | Method of applying a fiber optic adhesive to a fiber optic material |
CN109292520A (en) * | 2018-11-08 | 2019-02-01 | 国网河南省电力公司嵩县供电公司 | A kind of power construction cable disc transport |
WO2024134096A1 (en) * | 2022-12-23 | 2024-06-27 | Acome | Self-supported cable assembly and method for packaging a cable |
Citations (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1973080A (en) * | 1930-12-19 | 1934-09-11 | Line Material Co | Method of impregnating conduits |
US3336175A (en) * | 1964-04-09 | 1967-08-15 | Bell Telephone Labor Inc | Method of construction of helix wave guide |
US3765926A (en) * | 1971-08-11 | 1973-10-16 | Western Electric Co | Method for forcing fluent material into a substantially restricted zone |
US3783180A (en) * | 1971-07-15 | 1974-01-01 | Int Standard Electric Corp | Fluted cable |
US4061522A (en) * | 1977-02-03 | 1977-12-06 | International Telephone And Telegraph Corporation | Method and apparatus for terminating a fiber optic bundle |
US4152173A (en) * | 1976-12-14 | 1979-05-01 | Cleamay Ltd. | Method and apparatus for treating surfaces of an article with a fluid adapted to coat, clean or react chemically with the article |
US4276333A (en) * | 1979-10-22 | 1981-06-30 | Baxter Travenol Laboratories, Inc. | Apparatus and method for solvent adhesion of coiled tubing, and product produced thereby |
US4344808A (en) * | 1975-05-22 | 1982-08-17 | Healey Jr Daniel P | Method for manufacturing synthetic resin laminate tubing having a high bursting strength |
SU1406255A1 (en) * | 1986-09-17 | 1988-06-30 | Предприятие П/Я М-5314 | Method of producing nonwoven material |
US4950049A (en) * | 1989-02-28 | 1990-08-21 | At&T Bell Laboratories | Stable package of elongated optical fiber strand material |
-
1990
- 1990-08-29 US US07/575,103 patent/US5116451A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1973080A (en) * | 1930-12-19 | 1934-09-11 | Line Material Co | Method of impregnating conduits |
US3336175A (en) * | 1964-04-09 | 1967-08-15 | Bell Telephone Labor Inc | Method of construction of helix wave guide |
US3783180A (en) * | 1971-07-15 | 1974-01-01 | Int Standard Electric Corp | Fluted cable |
US3765926A (en) * | 1971-08-11 | 1973-10-16 | Western Electric Co | Method for forcing fluent material into a substantially restricted zone |
US4344808A (en) * | 1975-05-22 | 1982-08-17 | Healey Jr Daniel P | Method for manufacturing synthetic resin laminate tubing having a high bursting strength |
US4152173A (en) * | 1976-12-14 | 1979-05-01 | Cleamay Ltd. | Method and apparatus for treating surfaces of an article with a fluid adapted to coat, clean or react chemically with the article |
US4061522A (en) * | 1977-02-03 | 1977-12-06 | International Telephone And Telegraph Corporation | Method and apparatus for terminating a fiber optic bundle |
US4276333A (en) * | 1979-10-22 | 1981-06-30 | Baxter Travenol Laboratories, Inc. | Apparatus and method for solvent adhesion of coiled tubing, and product produced thereby |
SU1406255A1 (en) * | 1986-09-17 | 1988-06-30 | Предприятие П/Я М-5314 | Method of producing nonwoven material |
US4950049A (en) * | 1989-02-28 | 1990-08-21 | At&T Bell Laboratories | Stable package of elongated optical fiber strand material |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5194112A (en) * | 1990-09-14 | 1993-03-16 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army | Method of applying a fiber optic adhesive to a fiber optic material |
CN109292520A (en) * | 2018-11-08 | 2019-02-01 | 国网河南省电力公司嵩县供电公司 | A kind of power construction cable disc transport |
WO2024134096A1 (en) * | 2022-12-23 | 2024-06-27 | Acome | Self-supported cable assembly and method for packaging a cable |
FR3144123A1 (en) * | 2022-12-23 | 2024-06-28 | Acome | Self-retained cable packaging, preferably a self-retained cable core |
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Owner name: HUGHES AIRCRAFT COMPANY, A CORP. OF DE, CALIFORNIA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:LECOMPTE, GEORGE W.;REEL/FRAME:005428/0127 Effective date: 19900810 |
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Owner name: RAYTHEON COMPANY, MASSACHUSETTS Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:HE HOLDINGS, INC.;REEL/FRAME:015596/0647 Effective date: 19971217 Owner name: HE HOLDINGS, INC., A DELAWARE CORP., CALIFORNIA Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:HUGHES AIRCRAFT COMPANY A CORPORATION OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE;REEL/FRAME:015596/0658 Effective date: 19951208 |